Improved ore-separator



M PETERS. PNOHLUTNOGHAPMER. WASHINGTON. C.

` UNITED STATES' PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM HOOPER, OF TICONDEROGA, NEYV YORK.

IM-PROVED ORE-SEPARATOR.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. l01,l32, dated Marchi2, 1870.

To all whom t't may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM HOOPER, of the town of rl `iconderoga, inthe county of Es sex and State of New York, have invented certain newand usefnlimprovements in machines, means, or apparatus forconcentrating or separatingfores, metals, sands, earths, grains, andother substances when in a pulverized or granular condition, and whencontaining grains, granules, or particles of different specific gravities, to which machines I will, for convenience, give the generaldesignation of ore-separators, and I do hereby declare that thefollowing is full, clear, and exact description of such iinprovements,which will enable those skilled inthe art to make and use the same,reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form part ofthis specification.

' My description will be con fined to the treatment of ores, exceptwhere other substances are particularly specified, and to the employmentot' air, except when another fluid is men'- tioned. y

This invention relates, in parts, to the construction and arrangement ofthat class of machines iu which intermittent pu's, blasts, jets, orcurrents of air, water, or other fluid are projected or forced through aperforated plate,

sieve, or porous bottom or bed containing ore or other substance to heseparated, so as to loosen and agitate the mass in amanner which hasbeen found to be peculiarly favorable for separating lighter fromheavier grains, grannies, or particles, the lighter being driven up- Myimprovements consist in providing the means for overcoming these diiculties by, first, a bellows constructed with a flexible diaphragm,`capableof receiving a rapid vibratory motion constautl'y applied for a longtime without rendering it liable to wear or injury, in combination witha perforated plate, sieve, or porous bottom used as an orc-bed; second,an air-tight bellows chamber between the orehed and diaphragm, with alljoints so closed that no air can escape during the vibration of thediaphragm, except through the ore-bed; third, driving mechanismconstructed with adjustable forked levers, and .provided with adjustableshoes, which bear from opposite sides on eccentrics on the main shaft,in combination with tension or counterbalance springs and connected withthe tlexible diaphragm by means of adjustable rods, all combined andarranged in such manner that the shoes are, held in close contact withthe eccentrics, and so that a rapid vibratory motion can be imparted tothe flexible diaphragm without causing any blows or shocks, and so thatthe strokes may be lengthened or shortened at pleasure; fourth, one ormore partitions on the top of the ore-bed to prevent the mass of ore inthe orebed from becoming uneven or broken-a disadvantage which cannot beavoided if the ore-bed exceeds a certain width, the partitions beingintended to divide the volume of ore and keep it in a narrow channel asit traverses the ore-bed between the suppl-y and discharge; fifth, anaperture in the bottom of the ore-bed, so constructed that theconcentrated or pure ore will be discharged down through the bellows, incombination with double-channeled side discharges, through which will bedelivered from the upper channels pure tailings, and from the lowerchannels middlings,

or a mixture of pure ore and tailings, thus producing three qualities inthe work of separa- 'tion-viz., clean separated ore through the bottom,tailings or worthless gangue throughtheuppersidechannels,andmiddlingsthrongh the lower side channels, itbeing necessary with certain classes of ores to produce this mixture andpass itthrough the machine again to be more perfectly.separated; sixth,a roof-shaped partition in the discharge-passage for separated ore, soarranged as to prevent the lower and heavier stratum of ore from beingbroken and mixed with the upper stratum of middlings or tailings duringits discharge, and to insure an even and uniform discharge.

Figure 1 represents a longitudinal vertical sectionot' one of mymachines when constructed with bot-tom and side discharges to producethree qualities in the process of concentrationviz., pure ore, tailings,and middlings. Fig. 2 is a transverse section ot' the same. Fig. 3 is aplan or top view of one of my machines, when constructed as a doublemachine with end discharges only, to produce two qualities iu theprocess of concentration-viz., pure ore and tailings. Fig. 4 is alongitudinal vertical section of the same. Fig. 5 is a transversevertical section of the same. Fig. 6 is an end view of the same. Fig. 7is a plan or top view of the flexible diaphragm as used in both thesingle and double machines, represented in Figs. l to 6. Figs. 8 8 arethe same when the valves are placed elsewhere, and when the concentratedore is discharged into the bellows, either through the pertbrations ormeshes, or through an aperture or apertures in the orebed. Fig. 9 is atransverse section of the same when the concentrated ore is dischargedthrough a pipe passing from an opening in the ore-bed down through thebellows and diaphragm. Fig. 1() is a plan or top view of an ore-bed likethat last mentioned.

Similar letters indicate corresponding parts.

In the drawings, the let-ter A designates a frame made of metal or anyother snitablematerial, and so constructed that it is capable ofsupporting the driving mechanism, thebellows, ore-bed, and other workingparts.

The ore or other substance to be treated by my machine, if not alreadyin a pulverized or granular condition, is rst reduced to the requiredtineness by suitable crushers or stampers, and it isv then fed -into thehoppers B, from which it is allowed to run out and to spread over theore-bed G. This ore-bed is constructed of a perforated plate of sheetmetal, or of wiregauze, or of cloth, buckskiu, or other porous material,and it is supported by a grate, D, to the top of which is secured a box,E, which also embraces the hoppers B, such hoppers being separated fromthe remainder of the box by suitable partitions and adjustable gates.The ore-bed C is clamped between the upper surface of the grate D andthe bottom surface ofthe box E, and a packing-piece, a, of india-'rubber or other suitable material, is interposed, so as to produce anair-tightjoint and prevent the escape of air.

In Figs. 1 and 2 I have represented the hoppersB at the opposite ends ofthe box E, and in this case the ore-bed slopes down towardthe middle,where it is provided with an opening, b, which I term the bottomdischarge or delivery,77 while the box E is provided in its sides withopenings c, which form the side discharges or deliveries. The ore, onbeing let out from the hoppers B, spreads on the orebed, and it is thenagitated by currents orjets of air produced by the bellows situatedbelow the grate D. The bellows which I use in preference to any otherare constructed ot' a diaphragm, F, made of india-rubber or othersnitable fexible material, and provided with airvalves d, as shown inFig. 1 of the drawings. This diaphragm is clamped between thesupportingframe of the grate D and the main supporting-frame A, and itis connected to a bellows frame, G, to which a reciprocating inotionis'imparted by the driving mechanism that willv be presently described.Thejoint. between the supporting-frame ofthe grate D and the diaphragmis rendered air-tight by a pack.- ing-piece, e, ot' india-rubber orother suitable material, and this packing-piece also serves toprotectthe diaphragm from abrasion, wear, or injury by being brought incontact with the frames between which it is clamped. When the ore-bed isconstructed with such bottom delivery the'diaphragm F is perforated inits middle with an aperture corresponding to such bottom delivery, and atightjoint is produced round this aperture by a crossbar,f, secured tothe supporting-frame ot' the grate D, and pressing the diaphragm downupon another crossbar, g, secured to or forming a portion of the mainsupporting-frame A,both cross-bars being perforatedwith aperturescorresponding to the bottom delivery, c, of the ore-bed, suchperforations being somewhat larger than the opening in the ore-bed toallow the free passage of anything that once enters the opening, andthus clogging is prevented. By these means the diaphragm F is divided intwo parts, each of which is provided with a separate air-valve or set ofvalves. Another object ot' this partition is to prevent one end of themachine from robbing air from the other. If the diaphragm was notpartitioned, as shown in Fig. 4, that section or part of the ore-bedwhich might have on it the thinnest or lightest mass of ore would affordthe readiest escape for the air, and it would agitate that sectiontoomuch, while the other section would be agitated too little, Thepartition obviates this diticulty and gives a uniformdistribution of theair in both sections aud in all parts ot' the orebed. The diaphragm thusconstructed prevents any tine particles of ore which might pass throughthe ore-bed from dropping down upon and from injuring the workingmechanism, and also affords a means of readily saving and securing suchtine ore, owing to the facility of removingthe entire top and exposingthe diaphragm. This is au importantfeature, particularly when themachine is employed in separating ores containing precious metals; but Iprefer to keep the driving mechanism in a dust-proof' casing, as itserves the purpose of keeping ont all dust and grit.

The currents'of air produced by the action ofthe diaphragm F pass upthrough the perforated ore-bed and through the ore spread thereon, 'andby these means the light parts of the'ore are made to arrange themselveson the top, while the heavy parts sink down to the bottom of the massot' ore spread on the o'rebed, so that by the time the ore reaches themiddle of the ore-bed the heavy parts will dis- I charge throughthecenter delivery, b, while the light parts discharge through the sidedeliveries, e. j

The work of separation of the heavy from the lighter particles iseffected very quickly, almost immediately. A very few vibrations of thediaphragm is all that is required, so that the length of the ore-bed maybe quite short and yet do the work efficiently. I prefer to make theore-bed the proportional length shown on the drawings, so that I canhave a compact machine with the driving mechanism conveniently locatedunderneath. This was one object I had in view in adopting the plan of adouble machine with the end deliveries.

The side deliveries are best seen in Fig. 2 of the drawings. They aresituated at a certain elevation above the ore-bed, and from each of themextend'two channels, h i', one above the other, the lower channel tocarry oft' the middlings andthe upper one to carry off the tailings, asalready described. The tailings will be worthless. The middlings are tobe treated over again. In separating the coarser ores two deliveries, asshown in Fig. 1,'will in most cases be sufficient; but for finer ores,and with ores difficult to treat, three deliveries, as shown in Fig. 2,will be often found desirable. The middlings can be taken by elevatorsback into the' hoppers, the pure ore, delivered atthe bottom, can besaved as finished, and the tailings will be thrown awa-y.

The discharge of ore through the several deliveries or channels isregulated by a checking-gate, j, under the mouth ofthe bottom delivery,and by similar checking-gates, ji, under the discharge-openings of thelower channels, 7L, of the side deliveries. These checking gates areadjustable, and their position may be regulated by means of athumb-screw, or of an arm, I, which extends from a rock-shaft, m, towhich the required motion can beimparted by a lever, o, and screw-rod a.(Best seen in Fig. 2.) By closing the bottoni delivery partially orwholly, either by devices last mentioned or otherwise, the dischargeofthe heavy ore is checked, and it is dammed up, and the discharge ofthe middlings and tailingsis proportionatelyincreased.

To prevent the mass of ore which is disposed iu strata on the ore-bedaccording to the density or specihc gravity of the particles fromgetting broken and mixed, after being so disposed in strata, I haveapplied one or more partitions, p, whereby the width ofthe volume of oreis reduced, and its liability to become uneven andl broken is materiallydiminished. If the mass of evenly-distributed ore becomes shifted andout of level, the air escapes through the thinnest parts of the mass,and the desired effect of the ore-separator is lost, or at leastmaterially reduced. The number and distance apart of these partitionswill depend on the peculiarities of the ore.

' The mechanism for imparting the required motion to the diaphragmFconsists of two eccentrics or cams, q, mounted on the driving- Shaftr,and workin g against shoes s, which are secured in the bifurcated endsof levers t and bear on the eccentricsfrom opposite sides. For theseshoes I use blocks of wood of hard and tough fiber-such aslocnst-inserted endwise. Here is the point of greatest friction andwear, and wood is preferable to metal. Metal must be carefully fittedand kept fitted to the eccentrics, while wooden blocks will wear andkeep worn to a lit. Wooden shoes can be quickly and cheaply replaced,while those made ofmetal cannot. Besides, wood will take up the tremorand make the machine run smoothly and with very little noise, while twometal surfaces in contact and subjected to such rapid motion and severefriction Awill produce much jai ring and agreat cla-tter. A wooden shoewill, in my opinion, last longer than if made of iron or steel. Iattachmuch importance to this feature of my driving` mechanism. My machinewithout these wooden shoes would occasion me considerable trouble andannoyance.

The levers t have` their fulcra in standards u, rising fromthe bed ofthe machine, and their outer ends connect by rods c with thebellowsframe G. As the shaft i' revolves an oscillating motion isimparted to the levers t and a rising-andialling motion to thebellows-frame Gr. The diaphragm F is therefore alternately drawn down soas to admit air through the valves wherever placed, and then it ispushed in, whereby the valves are closed, and the air previously drawnin is forced up through the orebed. The motion of the shaftrand of thediaphragm F must neceesarily be very rapid, so as to produce therequired effect, and the eccentrics q are liable to produce blows on theshoes s.v To prevent such blows I have applied to the lever ttension-springs te', which,v serve as counter-balances to keep the shoess always in close contaet with the surfaces oftheir eccentrics, andwhich also give the machine something to do when the bellows is on itsdownward motion. As the upward stroke is given, the air forced throughthe ore-bed meets with resistance, and if the downward motion hadnothing to retard it, there would be an irregularity aud unsteadinesswhich would be objectionable.' This is completely remedied by thecounterbalance-springs. By these means all dead motion is avoided, and avery rapid motion can be imparted to the diaphragm F without diflculty,and at the same time the land the machine might soon become permanentlydisabled. The fly-wheel y aids greatly to produce this steadiness ofmotion.

Figs. 3, 4, 5, and 6, which represent the double machine, show thehoppers B in thelnidf dle of the ore bed C and the deliveries c* at theends. rl`hese end deliveries, 0*, are best seen in Figs. l and 2, eachend delivery being provided with two channels, h* 45, one abovetheother. vThe middlings and tailings, as already stated, discharge throughthe upper channels, ii, and the heavy ore through the lower channels, M.1n the last-named channels or'pas sages l have arrange-d roof-shapedpartitions a'. (Bestseen in Fig.5.) These partitions, as already stated,preventthe stratum ot separated ore, while the same discharges, fromgetting broken and mixed with tailings and render the discharge uniform,so that the stratum of sep arated ore on the ore-bed in close proximityto the discharge will not lose its uniform depth and evenness. v

A detached plan or top view of the flexible diaphragm is given in Fig. 7ofthe drawings. If the ore is discharged or allowed t0 sink through theperforations or meshes of the orebed down into the bellows and to lodgeon top of the diaphragm, I introduce a tube, bi, which is fastened inthe middle of such diaphragm by a flange, which may be circular, asshown in Fig.l 8'; or there'may be a bottom delivery with a pipe or tubepassing from an opening in the ore-bed down through the bellows anddiaphragm, as shownvin Figs. 9 and yl0, in

which case no ore would enter the bellows nor touch the diaphragm,unless, perhaps, tine particles, as hereinbefore intimated.

I will now proceed, at the risk of some repetition, to allude moreparticularly to that feature which I conceive to be most important in myinvention-viz., the bellows or blowing device.

To render a dry-ore separator valuable it is indispensable tha-t the airused should be perfectly under control, and that the machine should beso constructed as to allow the operator to introduce currents, puffs,blasts, or jets of air through the material to be separated with more orless force, and with lon-ger or shorter strokes, and with faster orslower motions, at pleasure. These variations are necessary. If,forinstance, the material to be treated is magnetic iron ore containingquartz, it is to be prepared by roasting and coarsely-granulatin g, asordinarily done by sta mps or crushers when the oldfashionedwater-separator is used. rIhe mass ot' such ore on the ore-bed may beseveral inches-say five or siX-in depth, and the strokes may be threehundred per minute, and,say, twoinches in length. lf, on the other hand,the material is quartz contai ning free gold in very fine particles,itshould be pulverized quite fine, and then the mass should be spread outmuch thinner-say one inch, or perhaps halt'l an inch, in depth-and thestrokes should be more rapid in numbersay four hundred to six hundredper minuteand much shorter-sayone inch, and perhaps half an inch, inlength. lf the air-chamber is not perfectly air-tight, so that the aircannot by any possibility escape except through the mass on the ore-bed,the machine will wholly fail to separate some kinds of ores capable ofbeing separated, will do its work imperfectly on any kind of ore, andthe operator will not be'able to employ short strokes at all.

The bellows is liable to collapse or wear out rapidly if constructedwith leaves like those used in an organ. If constructed with a diaphragmto work like a piston, the rapid motion and friction will soon rub offso much ofthe wearing-surface that repeated and frequent repairs and newpacking for a close joint will become necessary, and even then theair-chamber will not be air-tight. If the blowing contrivance is hun gto swing on a rock-shaft, the diaphragm will still allow wind toescapearound its circumference, and the side farthest from therock-shaft will describe too great an are, and travel so much fartherthan the side attached tothe shaft that the diaphragm will come up witha dirt and produce a shock with every motion, which shocks arecalculated to 4 get the mechanism out of order.

'To avoid these evils and secure a perfectly airtight chamber I havedevised the exible diaphragm hereinbefore described. In a large machineconstructed by me upon this plan I have used and prefer a rubber plateabout one-half inch in thickness; but leather and any other stron g,air-tigh t, and flexible materialcan be made to answer the purpose.Whatever is used the thickness of the material ought to be graduated tothe-superlicial extent of the snrface of the diaphragm, and ought to beas thick as its free vibration and use will permit. Beside making thechamber air-tight there'are other advantages securedby such a flexiblediaphragm. The outer edge of the rubber being clamped and securedtightly between the framework of the air-chamber and thesupportingvframe below, and the connection of thel driving mechanismtothe diaphragm being near its center, the vibrationsofthediaphragmareconh'ned chietly lto such center, so that when there is astrokeoneinch in length such center will vibrate that distance, whilethe diaphragm, near the outer edge so clamped, will move or vibrate verylittle--say one-sixteenth of an inchthus prevventing abrasion and wearat points where the piston and rock-shaft diaphragms would be sure to beworn. By my method there is no frictionin the bellows. I have run mymachine thus constructed steadily for several weeks,

concentrating iron ore at the rate of more than tive tous per hour, andon removing the top and exposing the bellows I found it as clean andsound as it was when first put in. There was no abrasion or wearwhatever, while with a machine containing a piston-bellows, and operatedby me, I found that its diaphragm required new packing almost daily, andeven with these constant repairs it worked very irnperl'ectly, owing tothe air escaping around its circumference. Another advantage is thefacility with which such a rubber plate may be adapted to separators ofdiverse patterns, especially with reference to discharging thelseparated or heavy particlesafter the actionof the air has drivenout-thelighter. For example, the heavy particles may be vdischarged through anaperture or apertures in the orebed down into the air-chamber andallowed4 to lodge on top of the diaphragm.

In such case the rubber plate would be left entire, without any openingcut out of it'for the valves,as shown in Fig. 8, and the valves would beinserted in the sides, or in some other convenient part of theair-chamber. The ore lodging on the diaphragm may then be made to passthrough an opening in or near its center, the edge of this opening to besecured `to the flanged end of a pipe by clamping the flange on the topof the rubber with a flanged screwnut encircling the pipe and working ina thread cut around it for a `proper distance below the upper tlange ofthe pipe. Thus clamped and secured, as shown in Fig. 9, With the otherend of the pipe fastened to make it stationary and firm, there would beno impediment to the free vibration of the diaphragm, as the centerframe,

which is attached to the driving mechanism, would be far enough oil'from the opening to allow the rubber to give when the diaphragm moves upand down. The diaphragm being dishing, the ore lodged upon it wouldreadily pass through the opening, and no air would escape out of thepipe, because its lower end would be arranged so vas to keep itscontents checked or dammed up with a sufficient accumulation of thedischarged ore to prevent such an occurrence. Again, this pipe, insteadof opening into the airY chamber, may have its upper end extended abovethe upper dange, up through the ore-bed, as shown in Fig. 9. By

this: means the separated ore would be discharged directly from theore-bed down through the pipe'and out at its lower end. In short, it isimmaterial what may be the peculiar construction of the ore-bed, whetherin manner and form as shown on the drawings, or with its perforations ormeshes large enough-to let the separated ore passJ down, either directlythrough such perforations or meshes, or iirst through the interstices ofa stratum of ore or other substance too coarse to pass through suchperforations ormeshes. The diaphragm and pipe, constructed and adjustedin combination as iirs-t'described, will discharge the contents ofthechamber as they accumulate there.'l I have invented an ore-bed of thisdescription, and intend hereafter to make application to have the samesecured to me by Letters Patent. Instead of constructing the orebedwit-h two end discharges, l have also contemplated a machine with acircular ore-bed, having its discharge all round the periphery of suchbed, which will also form the subject of a subsequent patent. In suchoase the diaphragm may be circular, as shown in Fig. 8.

There is still another advantage which my bellows possesses. The drivingmechanism may be applied in a variety of ways. For most oresand'subs'tances I prefer the method shown Y on the drawings; but forseveral others it will suffice to attach the'bellows-frame to acrankmotion by means of rods or lpitmen extendin g above or below andconnected to a crankshaft or to eccentrics on a shaft, and this shaftmay be in the same room, or in a room overhead or underneath; and thesame shaft may have a series of cranks or eccentrics to drive a numberof machines at the same time. Again, my bellows may brought down bymeansof a trip-wheel', and thrown upward to force the air through the mass onthe ore-bed by means of a spring or springs. For such springs I preferrubber, so applied that when the trip-wheel brings the bellows down toadmit air through the valves the descent will compress the rubbersprings, and their expansionwill throw the bellows up. when used in thisway, while'it may lose its elastic power if pulled ou the downwardmotion and allowed to spring back to produce an upward throw. If metalsprings are used in a machine put to such severe trials asore-separators are, theymay give out. Hickory or other wooden springsare preferable to metal; and I will add that my driving mechanismalready described, and shown on theV drawings, may be detached from mymachine and placed at a distance-for instance, in aeroom above or below-and may be employed, by proper adjustments and connections, to drivenot only one machine,but a numberof machines at the Same time. in numberand increased in length.

I have invented a machine with the bellows propelled by a trip-wheel andsprings, and with a different ore-bed and different devices fordischarging the ore and tailings; and I intend hereafter to makeapplication to have the same secured to me by Letters Patent.

My bellows possesses other advantages which are worthy ot' mention. e

Owing to the facility and certainty with which the operator may regulatethe length and frequency of the strokes, and the consequent diminutionor increase in force ot' the blasts, he may separate the substancestreated without the necessity of first sifting or sizing them. Themasson the ore-bed may contain a mixture of various sizes and shapes,from particles like dust'to lumps like pebbles.

By increasing the area of the diaphragm and enlarging the size of theair-chamber relatively to the size of the ore-bed a surplus of air maybe obtained and allowed to escape through suitable pipes, ducts, orchannels in such manner as to drive off and out of the building in Whichthe machine is located all dust and impalpable powder rising into thesurrounding atmosphereof the-room when the mass on the ore-bed isagitated, and thus save the machinery from the injury and relieve theoperator from the annoyance which such dust might otherwise occasion.The same result may be accomplished by constructing the diaphragm andair-chamber with a partition, as

Rubber will retain its elasticity The connecting-rods may be multipliedshown in Fig. 4, and substituting a tight covhferingfor a perforatedor'porous bed, thus re- 'thedouble machine described to a singleflehine`with only one'end discharge; or

' algyirrate-and independent tight-topair-chamber, with the diaphragmand wit-hout the per-v f forat'ed or porous bed, may be constructed forthe` special purpose of carrying oft', through suitable pipes, ducts,vorchannels, all dust i arising -fr'om one or more of the machines; andsuch blowing device, for the purpose last men-` tioned, may be driven byan attachment to the` driving mechanism already described, or by 'anindependent motion by crank or other-` wise. For blowing off the dustthe same care,

'in respect to the length and` rapidity of the stroke, is not to beobserved as whenv the bel-1 lows is used inthe work of separation.

` l My bellows willy also permit the size of the l machine to beindefinitely expanded from one` worked by hand to one requiring` severalhorse' power. The size'most suitable to be adopted, Twill depend on thequantity, quality, and pe-l culiar character of the ore or substance tobe: separated, and due regard should'also be had tothe place where theniachineis to be transported, and to the locality where-it is 'to be operated. I propose to constructone capable of treating one tonof ore anhour, which may be worked by one man and carried by one mule,

and I might construct one, if deemed'advisa-j ble,'t0 be operated onvralluvial deposits containing gold, and in other very heavy work, whichwould 'dispose of such enormous quan- Vtities as to compete with, if notwholly super- ',sede, the hydraulic'rneans. now employed on v4suchdeposits in California and elsewhere; but `for crushed or stamped ores,lwhich constitute 'the great bulk of substances to be separated, I preferto multiply the number of machines to giving to them dimensions whichmight render them diicult to handle.

Other uids may be substituted for air by im In ersin gthe valves in areservoirabundantly supplied with the duid so substituted. With someorcs andsubstanceswater, also solutions and even quicksilver, maybefound preferable to air. The substituted iluid may be used over and overagain; and, finally, the

' machine can be employed' to separate any min eralsor'other substancesalready possessing, or re'quirn gto be reduced to, a pulverized orgranular condition, including cereals and various kinds of seeds,whenever and wherever any of these may be found` to contain particles orgrains of diierent specific gravities which it may be desirabletoseparate; but for shine ores I prefer another machine which I haveinvented, and which I intend to have patented. Y

Havingthus describedmy invention and improvements, what I claim' as new,and desire to secureby Letters Patent, is f' 1. The flexible diaphragmF, constructed of an indiaerubbcr plate or other suitable flexiblematerial, for forcing air through dry substances' of different specificgravities, substantiallyas described. 4 I i 2. The central discharge inthe ilegible' diaphragm F, substantially as and for the purposedescribed. Y 3. The arrangement ot` one or more parttions, p, on theperforated bed, substantially as described. 4; The forked levers t,provided with adjustable'shoes s, bearingon eccentrics q on thedriving-shaft, in combination with tensionsprings zo, connecting-rods c,and exible diaphragm F, substantially 'as shown and described.

5. The roof-shaped partitions a: in the passage hi, substantially asshown and described.

6. The arrangementot'side deliveries, c, each provided with twopassages, h i, in combination with the bottom delivery, b, and with thebed, substantially as described.

, WILLIAM HOOPER. Vitnesses J. P. RAMsAY,

A. M. PINcHIN.

